Paying it Forward: Cash is King, especially for non-profits
Paying it Forward: Cash is King, especially for non-profits
Cash Flow is poorly understood. When "Goes Intos" is less than "Goes Ottas" it's bad! Leaders need basic financial understanding and budget intimacy.
Non-profits have the same challenges as any for-profit business.
Turnover of talent, by board, leadership, staff, or volunteers – weakens mission effectiveness and skills available.
Cash -- do you talk about “it” at your board meeting? Days of payroll, Accounts Payable outstanding? How about fundraising? Do all your pledges convert? Ever have a shortfall? Who on the board or executive team is Dr. No?
Years ago, selling to Atari’s CEO Jack Tramiel, cash flow was tight. Tramiel purchased Atari at a “fire sale price” as Time Warner liquidated assets. Atari’s chief operating officer made deposits from accounts receivables in the morning; then cut accounts payable checks after lunch.
Making sure the organization functions effectively is an imperative. Purposefully define systems at the board and executive levels.
“The Six Systems of Organizational Effectiveness” blog from LeadershipCircle.com is an excellent overview of the consideration of communication, accountability, delivery, performance and measurement as principal systems necessary for leadership to flourish.
Make sure your board meetings and executive reviews have the right metrics, with materials answering anticipated questions. When things follow plans, a consent agenda allows adoption of the key decisions and reports effectively.
Time is reserved for problems requiring management/board attention. Nothing is more precious than time in a board meeting; focus on the “must be done FIRST” priorities.
With over 200 nonprofits in our multi-county MSA, we have many first-rate nonprofits. Other nonprofits struggle to meet their mission. Board leadership must commit to optimize the nonprofit, else momentum carries the status quo to the new board chair, nothing changes.
Action Against Opioids has Naloxone available at two location at no charge. A vending maching at Faith Mission asks for a zip code, then dispenses a package with two free doses of Nalozone nasal spray.
Naloxone nasal spray is also available at Midwestern State University’s Clark Student Center. Dr Vergara and her nonprofit, Action Against Opioids, help protect our community from accidental Fentanyl and opioid overdoses.
Dr. Vergara cited 2022 data; Wichita Falls Police Department responded to 141 opioid overdose calls that resulted in 47 deaths.
Focus on public metrics, else no one understands how their contributions make a difference. Talent leaves for a similar nonprofit, that enjoys more success. Donors and grants follow.
Sunset is never as pretty as the new day promised by a glorious dawn. Let’s grow and volunteer to serve.
Published Wichita Falls Times Record News, Trends Section, Sunday September 15, 2024.
Jack Browne is a community volunteer and former technology sales and marketing executive who worked 40 years at Motorola, MIPS Technologies and other companies. How are the children doing?